In an earlier post I described my frustration at finding someone to build a 10mm 1911 to my specifications. I gave up on the idea for a few months while working on other projects. Earlier this week I decided to CALL the Springfield Armory Custom Shop. I had emailed them several months ago and received not reply. The representative I spoke with informed me that 1) those darned IT guys had directed incoming email to the address on their web site to nowhere - now fixed and 2) they will build almost anything I can design - just send money 
Typical prices start at $2.5k and delivery time 12 months +
As my only experience with S-A is an M1A from back in the days when they went for less than $800 and still included a lot of military surplus parts - TRW bolt and barrel
I decided to sample their latest wares. I picked up a "mil-spec" 1911-A1 in 45 ACP new for $650. Turned out to be a "Loaded" package with 2 mags, nice wood grips and a spare set of plastic grips, a holster and dual mag pouch. The trigger broke cleanly at 4 1/2 pounds. The slide was TIGHT. No shake, rattle nor roll. After a few hundred rounds or some hand lapping it will feel like the fit of one of my Clark Custom 1911s. The barrel/bushing seems to be a National Match style fitup. Initial accuracy testing was fantastic. The only issue was light primer strikes - something I have never seen in a 1911.
A call to the factory informed me that they use a Titanium firing pin. The issue appears to be the safety thing in the mainspring housing. After 50 rounds the finish was worn off one side of the mainspring cap. Substituting a standard mainspring solved the problem and now it strikes like a pile driver - as a 1911 generally does.
Bottom line, excusing the SAFETY feature issue, if this is the quality of their entry level 1911, their custom offering should really be something. Does anyone here by chance have a S-A Custom Shop 1911 in 10mm or some other caliber?
TIA,
Ken
Typical prices start at $2.5k and delivery time 12 months +As my only experience with S-A is an M1A from back in the days when they went for less than $800 and still included a lot of military surplus parts - TRW bolt and barrel
I decided to sample their latest wares. I picked up a "mil-spec" 1911-A1 in 45 ACP new for $650. Turned out to be a "Loaded" package with 2 mags, nice wood grips and a spare set of plastic grips, a holster and dual mag pouch. The trigger broke cleanly at 4 1/2 pounds. The slide was TIGHT. No shake, rattle nor roll. After a few hundred rounds or some hand lapping it will feel like the fit of one of my Clark Custom 1911s. The barrel/bushing seems to be a National Match style fitup. Initial accuracy testing was fantastic. The only issue was light primer strikes - something I have never seen in a 1911.A call to the factory informed me that they use a Titanium firing pin. The issue appears to be the safety thing in the mainspring housing. After 50 rounds the finish was worn off one side of the mainspring cap. Substituting a standard mainspring solved the problem and now it strikes like a pile driver - as a 1911 generally does.
Bottom line, excusing the SAFETY feature issue, if this is the quality of their entry level 1911, their custom offering should really be something. Does anyone here by chance have a S-A Custom Shop 1911 in 10mm or some other caliber?
TIA,
Ken
